Chapter 15: Golden Hour

Naruto's apartment

When they got to his station, instead of going straight to his apartment, though, Hinata spotted a convenience store and declared, "I just need to grab something. Just wait for me here."

He nodded and waited at the entrance of the shop, still shaky. He loosened his tie, then decided to just take it off. He reached for his vest and took that off, too, and placed them both inside his bag. Maybe that would help him breathe a little bit easier because he was having trouble doing it. In his mind, he just couldn't get over how fast everything was moving.

Holy shit. They were committed. He really was going to sleep with her tonight.

But even though he was nervous, he was also eager. He looked down at his pants. Damn. Maybe too eager.

She was grinning at him when she walked out of the store. Something shiny was in her hand, the light reflecting off the plastic wrapping. "Whew! Good thing they had it in stock."

He smiled at her. "What did you get?"

She showed it to him. "Condoms."

And he froze. His voice came out in a strangled squeak. "Condoms? At the convenience store?"

She nodded. "Yep. I was so worried they wouldn't have any. But I just thought I'd get some, just in case."

"But I have condoms at my place!"

He blushed when a couple of passersby heard him, looked at him, and then giggled.

She frowned at his tone. "Relax! Like I said, just in case. Besides, guys shouldn't be the only ones who need to worry about protection. Women have a role, too, which was why I decided to get them."

But he was still staring at her in horror when he realized she didn't have anything else in her hands. "Hinata, is that all you bought?"

"Yup!"

"Where's the paper bag?!" He couldn't help the desperation and embarrassment that crept into his tone.

But she was looking at him perplexed, as if he was being unreasonable. "Huh? Oh, you mean the delicacy bag that the stores give you for sanitary napkins and stuff?"

"Yes, that one. Where is it?"

"I told the lady I didn't need it."

"Why?!"

"Because I'm doing my part to save the environment." She was frowning at him and he realized she was starting to get annoyed. It was backed up by the very pinched expression around her mouth. "Naruto, really! Why are you asking so many pointless questions?"

He had one more pointless question to ask her because he just needed to check. "You bought a box of condoms at the convenience store closest to my apartment and didn't even try to hide it. You really did?"

"Yeah, and? What's the problem?"

"The problem is—" He broke off when he felt dread snake through him. He looked up and saw that the woman at the register, the one who was always there when he stopped to buy something, was staring at them through the window, and specifically at Hinata who hadn't bothered to hide the box and was still holding it so obviously, waving it so nonchalantly in the air.

The clerk looked away, though, before the awkwardness got even more intense.

His face hot, Naruto closed his eyes and groaned. "I can never show my face again at this store. I'd be too embarrassed to see that lady."

"What's to be embarrassed about? We're planning on having sex and I wanted condoms just in case."

A couple of the people who passed by overheard her and then snickered behind their hands. Hinata was still holding up the box, so very obviously, in the air. The lights from all around them glinted off the surface of the cellophane wrapper, the distinctive colorful design and lettering of this particular brand. There was no way anyone could mistake it for anything else but a box of condoms.

"Will you please stop waving it around?!" He groaned with embarrassment and pulled her along, getting her as far away as possible from this place. "Just put the box in your bag, please!"

She sighed with a long-suffering air. "Geez! They're just condoms, Naruto!"

But mercifully, she did as he asked, packed away the condoms in her back, and let her lead him to his apartment.

"I'm on top," she announced as soon as they stepped into his entrance way.

His face suddenly heated, but he was game. "Yeah. Whatever. I'm not really picky."

And then she was in his arms, kissing him.

She was not going to ease him into this slowly, not even giving him time to get used to her body pressed against his. She was in full throttle mode, her hands gripping his shoulders as she stood up on her toes, threading her fingers through his hair, lips opening over his, pushing into him, invading him with her scent and softness.

Despite the teasing, the fantasizing, he was still unprepared for the heat. He was suddenly drugged as he opened his mouth to accept her ravenous mouth.

She moaned and then she was whispering his name into his ear when he picked her up and pushed his pelvis against her, between her spread thighs. Hinata clutched at him desperately, holding on even when he ground into her, pinning her butt to the wall.

"Yes!" A ragged cry of triumph. But she nipped at his skin, pressed open-mouthed kisses into his neck.

But he brought their mouths together again to shut her up, kissed her senselessly, hurtling them further into this wild abyss. A wild, stormy tumult of his pent-up frustration for all those times she'd teased him and left him wanting more. There was nowhere to hide, she wouldn't be able to torment him and then run away.

She didn't. She met his frenzied kiss, stroked with her tongue, sucked on his lips with abandon, strained mindlessly against his body. Her hands roamed all over his back, his arms, his neck, his face, whatever she could latch on to, she caressed and rubbed.

When he needed to breathe, he drew back, and laughed when he saw her dramatically lean her head against the wall and pretend to faint.

"Oh, Naruto, you stud," she breathed lovingly.

She cracked one eye open and joined in his laughter. He was glad she was flushed, too, making both of them match in color.

Hinata placed a finger on his mouth. "God, I knew it! You liar."

"Huh?" He blinked at her but kissed the fingertip gently caressing his lower lip.

She grinned at him, a knowing, wicked smile. "The way you just kissed me right now. You have that wild streak inside of you."

And then without warning, she reached for his shirt and gripped it. With all the strength she had, Hinata clutched the folds of fabric at his chest and tugged really hard, causing the buttons of his expensive, tailor-made Zegna shirt to pop off one by one. He'd always thought the brand made really good shirts, but he watched now with disbelief as the buttons flew in all directions. One of them hit her squarely on the cheek, which made both of them laugh again, a sudden stop to this rushing descent into madness.

"God, that felt so good!" she exclaimed with feeling.

He was exhilarated to realize that she'd been waiting to do that for a while.

She was still laughing as she rubbed the spot on her cheek.

"Are you telling me that all this time you've been fantasizing about destroying my shirts?" he asked, amused.

"Yes." But then she shook her head and grinned a little shamefacedly. "I mean, no. Not your shirts. I just wanted to really pop those buttons off you. They were taunting me. You're always so put-together, I just wanted to see what would happen if I did that."

"Well you just did." He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss on her nose before he rubbed the spot on her cheek that was probably still hurting from that rogue button. "I think this might be a sign that we need to slow down."

"It is." But she reached for him again, brought his mouth to hers and kissed him once more, gently this time.

She did as she promised him that morning in Kyoto when she'd described in excruciating detail how she would kiss him. First there, a caress at the part of his lips where they were fullest, gently first, then she slowly nibbled. He couldn't help smiling when she then moved to kiss him at the corner of his mouth, her puckered lips brushed against that little indent, and then she licked with a small dart of her tongue. She then moved upward, and he felt her mouth brush the softest kiss on his warm cheekbones, first a whisper against the right, and then the same to his left.

The next one on her list had been a kiss to his chest, which was now exposed because she'd ripped away those buttons.

But before she could do it, he pressed one of his own kisses against her mouth, murmuring, "What did you mean about the wild streak, Hinata?"

She sighed against his mouth, but she smiled when she pulled back to answer his question. "I just thought that maybe you've got something, some kind of crazy part of you that you've kept hidden inside you that's dying to come out. And I want to be the one to unleash it."

He wasn't quite sure how to take that. "Are you making fun of me again?"

She shook her head. "No."

He smiled, relieved. "I'm glad. I was hoping you weren't."

But her gaze turned philosophical. "You know, I always thought you were a lion."

He raised his eyebrows at her, completely at a loss at the direction of her conversation.

"But I was wrong. You're not a lion despite your golden coloring. You're more like a panther."

"You're going to have to explain, because I don't know much about animals."

She ran her fingers through his hair, gently played with the strands over his forehead. "Lions know they're hot shit and don't hesitate to let others know that. Panthers are shy, sleek. They hide quietly but they suddenly burst out of the silence when they strike." Her lavender gaze snared him, kindled his already heated body. "Like you, right now, when you loosen up with your kisses. And of course, I can't wait to see what's going to happen when we finally get to your bed."

"Hinata, wow." He could only stare at her. She definitely had a way with words—because he very much wanted to unleash himself inside her.

But she was still seducing him with her words. "I loved watching you work, every time we ran to each other at the festivals. Someday, I thought to myself. Someday, I will feel those hands on me," she was murmuring as she brought her hands to run it lightly on his arms. "Especially the way you handle your camera, how careful you are with everything, I knew you'd be gentle."

Gentle.

Ah, damn.

There it was.

Shy, timid, quiet.

The words that everybody used to describe him, words that never failed to chip away at his hard-won confidence in himself and his abilities. Words that made him feel he wasn't good enough, bright enough, tough enough for everyone else.

The old fears came back.

Despite her earlier words praising him, the doubts he'd held at bay suddenly came bubbling to the surface, making him question all of this happening in his apartment.

Naruto looked at her, still relaxed and drowsy in his arms.

He remembered that gleam in her eyes when she'd hunted him, the fervor in her eyes when she'd sat next to him at the counter in Ichiraku when she'd described her experience in Africa. Hinata once stalked lions and swam with sharks, had lived a life of excitement and adventure in the wilds of nature.

What could he offer? How could he compare to what she'd experienced in her line of work? He was a boring man who lacked the thrill and excitement she'd once pursued.

Naruto mentally shuddered at how unsure his voice sounded when he asked, "Hinata, what are you doing here with me, really?"

Her gaze turned puzzled. He didn't blame her because this was putting a damper on that wild explosion of lust that had gripped them a moment ago.

"I mean. You've had a very exciting life being out in the wild, I just don't think you'd be satisfied with me." He could hear the anxiety in his own voice and he hated it. "I'm very tame compared to everything you've experienced."

She was silent, but her eyes were luminous, and somehow a little understanding.

Hinata suddenly stepped back and then reached for her turtleneck, taking it off.

His heart dropped as he watched.

He looked at the healed wounds on her skin that she'd exposed because it seemed it was what she wanted him to do.

She smiled. "My scars. Not pretty, right?"

He shook his head. "They're part of you."

She took his hand and brought it to her neck. He couldn't help the caress he gave her. "Are you repulsed?"

"No! Of course not. I think you're beautiful, ever since I saw you at that information session. I couldn't keep my eyes off you."

"Thank you. I know you mean that." She smiled again. "What are you doing with me, Naruto? I'm scarred and disfigured. I'm a hot mess with the grace of a clown. You've worked with models, some of the most beautiful people on earth, and yet I'm here half-naked in your apartment?"

Damn.

A moment of insight.

And surprising clarity.

She was a smart lady, he realized, as he started smiling. The doubts faded, blasted away by the brightness of her smile. Even as the curve of her lips widened, he became filled with joy again, all because she simply wanted to be here, with him.

He responded honestly, "I never cared about all of that. It doesn't matter that you're scarred."

"Exactly!" She grinned at him. "Naruto, you're amazing and wonderful and sexy and beautiful and talented and ma—"

He got it, finally understanding. So he shut her up with a kiss.

She laughed against his lips, which made him stop kissing her.

"Stop overthinking this. You're ruining the mood," she said.

He laughed. "Okay. I guess I should stop ruining the mood, then."

"Damn straight. Now shut up and kiss me more!"

He did. Then suddenly stopped a few minutes later when he felt it was time to move to the bedroom.

"Alright, give me that damned box," he grumbled, referring to the condoms she'd bought earlier.

She laughed, reached for it in her bag and gladly placed it in his hand.

He ripped off the plastic cover, opened the box, took one out, and dropped the rest on the floor.

She was already in her bra and jeans, so the next thing he had to do was take off the rest of her clothing, but he lifted her up, surprising her with the sudden move that she shrieked with surprise.

"I'm on top!"

"Yes, already!" he said with an exasperated laugh. "You've been very clear with your preference! I got it, Hinata. Stop giving me instructions!"

She was still cracking up, too, when she landed on her butt in his bed. She was still laughing when he took off the rest of her clothes and his as well. She was smiling when he was finally naked, and she got a really good look at his body, the one she'd fantasized about and felt so many times in the few encounters she'd had with him. She was right. God, he was even more gorgeous without the button-down shirts, when he wasn't so damned put together.

But she stopped smiling when he leaned into her but kept his weight off, and kissed her on her shoulders, his mouth traveling down her neck. He pressed one brief kiss on her collarbone, right where her scars were, and he drifted downward to her breast, caressing gently. She plopped backward onto her back and let him caress downwards with his lips and hands, even though she didn't need it. She was ready, but she just wanted to feel everything. If she was only to have this one night with him, she wanted to get everything out of her system.

She was already damp, she knew, her nipples were puckered up so tight even before he put his hands to her breasts, gently squeezing, caressing. But she also wanted to feel his tongue on her.

Ah. It came out as a sigh.

There. And god, he really was a stud.

He took his time, taking in one of her nipples into his mouth while his other hand caressed her other breast. His tongue was rough as he flicked, then swirled his tongue several times around her nipple, and then he sucked, causing her to feel a deep searing heat inside her core. She tightened her thighs around his flanks, strained against him, hips lifting in helpless response.

She was drowning, she gripped the sheets tightly when his gentle licks increased in intensity, changed as he became even more aggressive with his tongue as he continued to play with her breasts.

Swept up in the languorous sensations that engulfed her, she became keenly aware that he was suddenly kissing his way down her stomach, nipping at the sensitive skin above her navel, while his hands were gently pushing at her legs, spreading her wide open. His lips were at the inside of her thighs now, trailing upward even as a hand moved and a finger touched her between her legs with a gentle caress.

"Oh, Naruto!" She caught his hair in her hands, wanting him to stop because the sensations were too much to bear but also wanting so much for him to continue and give her release.

But that didn't stop him as he drew her unerringly into his mouth.

Her thighs quivered as she squirmed on the bed, eager with anticipation as she felt his lips close on her sensitive skin, then his tongue was on her, lapping slowly, a gentle sucking, while he kept her spread with his hands firmly on the inside of her legs.

It didn't take long for his mouth to coax a reaction out of her. Hinata, a woman with no impulse control and after three-years of self-imposed celibacy, felt herself coming apart with each whimper she uttered. It didn't take much for her to burst into flames, convulsing, and holding nothing back as her cry of pure pleasure burst out of her. Still, he held her, anchored her to his wicked mouth as her back arched, her toes curled, and the contractions faded.

She opened her eyes slowly to see him looking at her, a small smile on his face, but a quick look at his groin told her they weren't done yet.

"Let's switch!" she gasped, breathless and still recovering from her orgasm, but she wanted to repay the favor. It was only fair.

With effort, she crawled out of her lust-induced stupor while dragging in huge gulps of air. Finally, she pushed at him, none too gently, and managed to pin him to the mattress as she sat on his stomach.

"Hinata, wait, I—"

Startled, he didn't try to push her off, but she saw that he was trying to take control of the situation, but she wanted this to be good for him, too,

"Nope!" she said with a ready laugh, reaching behind her and grasping him, murmuring appreciatively as her fingers closed around his length, ran her fingers over the sensitive skin there, feeling his whole body tighten in reaction. He tried to get up, but her next words made him flop back onto the bed. "Naruto, you make me so weak."

He groaned and tried to protest. "Maybe we should—"

But she released her grip on him, and brought her hands back to his chest then his abdomen, skimming her fingers gently at the clearly-defined muscles of his body, loving the feeling of his naked skin under her palms. She leaned down and kissed him on the mouth until he was quiet and she felt his arms close around her, his hands once more rubbing against her.

She stopped kissing him and met his gaze. "Remember, don't overthink it," she reminded him with a smile.

He smiled back at her. "Right."

She slid down slowly over his body, making sure he felt her nipples sliding over his heated skin while she pressed kisses over his chest and torso.

He remained silent until she kissed her way past his belly button and was now at his erection, jutting proudly between his legs, and very aware that he was watching her. She grasped him, stroked him gently, anticipating how he would taste in her mouth.

He tensed and shifted. "On sec—"

So to make him stop talking and protesting, she kissed him at the tip, and then opened her mouth wider to take him in, deeper, suckled until she heard him gasping and moaning with desperation—just like she'd done earlier.

Good.

She continued doing it, her hand rubbing, caressing, making up for what she couldn't fit inside her mouth. Her tongue swirled, made sure she could tease another groan out of him.

"Hinata, ma—"

If he could still talk, then she wasn't doing a good job at this. She suckled harder, silencing his words, making him lose his train of thought again as he gasped once more, his hips lifting off the bed.

"Ah, fuck. Hinata."

Emboldened by that very rare curse she'd wrung out of him, she pumped her hands gently over his hard length while slowly licking up and down once more. One last loving lick before she took him fully again, increased the pressure of her mouth.

But then he got smart and stopped talking altogether, his hands tangled in her hair, fingers straining against her scalp. Driven by the desire to make him experience pleasure with her mouth, Hinata continued licking him, cupping his balls, moving her mouth up and down sinuously when she found her rhythm.

She was attempting to take him even deeper when suddenly, she felt him shift, and he brought his hands gently to her face, her cheeks. Then he grasped her firmly under the arms and lifted her up off him. Before she could process what was happening, he'd found and ripped the square packet open and slipped the condom on himself.

"Hey! I wanted to do that!" she protested with a pout.

"Too bad!" he retorted.

But she had to blink in apprehension when she understood that he was going to enter her, feeling a moment of doubt whether he could even get inside. He seemed to think they could, and she stopped doubting. Naruto did as she'd demanded when he laid back down on the mattress, and positioned her so that she could finally sink onto him, her knees on each side of his hips.

It didn't go as smoothly as she'd thought because he felt a lot fuller than she'd expected, but holy shit, when he was finally all inside her, she shivered at the sensation.

She sighed, closed her eyes, and took a moment to feel him lodged so solidly in her. God, he felt delicious inside her. She felt penetrated and full.

Balls deep.

"What?!"

Her eyes flew open when she heard him. He was looking up at her, an inscrutable expression on his face.

"Oh! Did I say it out loud?" Hinata asked, embarrassed as she looked down on him, but still unable to resist clamping around him, which made Naruto gasp. "I meant to keep that thought in my head."

Again, there it was. She was starting to love that mixture of shock, perplexion, and admiration on his face that he just couldn't help showing her whenever she did something that threw him off.

He started frowning, but all of a sudden, he was shaking—shaking with laughter because he probably didn't know what the hell to do in this situation.

"Isn't that what kids say these days?" Hinata asked, unable to understand what he found humorous.

"Yes, but not actually during sex, Hinata!" He was still laughing quietly.

"But it perfectly describes this?" she said as she squeezed her inner muscles. He groaned just as she sighed. "I mean, I can feel you so buried firmly inside me all the way up to your…" She reached back and lovingly cupped his balls and squirmed again.

And she continued to just sit there and not move, just took her time luxuriating in the feeling of Naruto balls deep inside her.

"Oh, Naruto," she said. She couldn't help the worshipful tone in her voice as she rose up on her knees and then slowly sank into him again. Of course he would feel this good. Sighing, she repeated the motion one more time and finally noticed that he was quiet.

When she opened her eyes, she saw him gazing at her, but she didn't feel embarrassed at all to have him observe her.

"I'm going to ride you until you come," she promised, her eyes dark with desire but determined to deliver on that vow. Then she started lifting herself up and down languorously, then faster, driven higher by her own wantonness as she got closer to the peak.

But she lost all train of thought when she felt the tremors grip her, knowing another wave of pleasure was on its way to send her hurtling over the precipice.

No! Too damned fast!

This was what happened when she teased and drove herself into a tizzy. It was her own fault for tormenting him because she'd imagined doing this with him so many times in her head, but the reality was so much better.

And he helped her along with the first upward surge of his hips.

She moaned.

She was loud, very vocal about what she liked. And just like him, she wasn't picky, because she seemed to enjoy everything he did to her. He couldn't help his hands as they roved all over her body, her soft skin cupped in the palm of his hands, her breasts bouncing pertly with each slide up and down over him. Her hair was a wild, tangled mess, but it diminished none of her sensuality, whisping over his fingers when his hands rubbed at her breasts.

I'm going to ride you until you come.

Naruto watched her as she slowly surrendered to her desires.

"More," she panted. "Right there. Harder!" Her ragged breathing indicating she was close, then the high-pitched, kittenish cries, punctuated by her hands roving over his body, gripping, squeezing every time a wave of pleasure coursed through her.

Naruto experienced a very brief spurt of panic that his neighbors might hear but then it didn't matter any more because she picked up the pace, rode him up and down to her own pleasure. He could feel the spasms of her inner muscles when she stilled, went taut, clenched around him as an orgasm rocked her.

"Yes, god, yes!"

When she was done, she sat limplessly over him, boneless, and slumberous.

Seemingly exhausted.

No, Hinata, he thought as he thrust upward again. I'm going to ride you until you come.

Many times, he hoped.

Her eyes flew open once more when she realized he wasn't done yet.

Wonder flitted over her face as he grasped her hips and kept her steady as he ground his pelvis up against her.

He would ride her so he could finally get his petty revenge for all those times she'd teased him. Naruto kept up the speed, driven by a perverse sense of petty revenge for all those times she'd mercilessly teased him, taunted him with her scent and her body.

At first, she tried to meet him, thrust for thrust, but she eventually gave up when she couldn't keep up with his slow, sensuous stroking inside her.

He was a black belt in karate. He also still went to his kickboxing sessions with his trainer. He had stamina, strength—and most importantly, the patience to see this through. But she didn't need to know any of that as he flexed his hips and thrust upward, this time in rapid bursts.

Until she finally said, "I can't anymore, Naruto!" throwing her hands up in the air in surrender, laughing, breathless. Then she looked down at him, pressed a palm on his chest to try to stop him from moving and nudging, driving inside her. Her eyes were drowsy, hazy, defeated by her own passion. "I'm done, I'm done. I don't want another orgasm!"

But even despite her denial, she crashed again, surrendering to another wave of pleasure, her body trembling as a low, serrated groan escaped her.

Naruto, despite feeling the overwhelming need to finish, couldn't help but be amused by her reaction. He wanted to laugh, giddy with a manic euphoria. It was a heady sensation. For the first time since they'd started this dance, it felt as if for once, he had the upper hand on her.

Plus, he'd never had a woman beg him to stop because she didn't want to come any more.

Still, he wasn't done, though, because even as she crested, he continued thrusting, unable to stop, wanting to see her looking at him with lustful wonder, with appreciation in her eyes.

"Just one more," he whispered, tightening his hands on her butt to push him more firmly into her inner depths. He sensed the change inside, her muscles clamping around him, pulsating, squeezing, making him clench his jaw, ready now to slake his own lust.

But she opened her eyes and a slow, helpless laugh escaped her. Hinata was sated, but she was still game. "Okay, but that's it!" she breathed.

And she closed her eyes, bit her lip, threw her head back, mindlessly took the delicious nudging he gave her as he kept up a steady, greedy pace, hoping he could make her reach that last carnal peak that would satisfy her and him. Her gasps and heavy cries drove him until his grip tightened on her hips, and Naruto finally came, hard and fast—into that condom she'd insisted on buying earlier.

She crashed onto him when her final orgasm subsided and his left him boneless on the mattress.

But she was kissing him on the shoulder, breathing in his scent deeply, and then she murmured something that almost made him tear up because he somehow understood what she meant.

"You make me feel like I can stay here forever. With you," she whispered sleepily, a loud yawn following that statement.

He pulled out of her and then tucked her firmly against him. He kissed the top of her head.

She sighed again as she laid her head on his arm, turned into him, and gave him a hug. "I knew we'd be wonderful together."

She shook her head then chuckled, and to him it sounded like she was self conscious and embarassed. "Forget it. I don't know what I'm saying. Probably just my post-nut clarity talking. I mean, it's been a while."

"Yeah," he responded, not knowing whether that was the right thing to say, but she said nothing and only tried to hide her face into his side, but he wouldn't let her. Instead, Naruto kissed her again, and he felt her smile against his lips.

"Good night, Hinata."

"G'night, Naruto," was her mumbled reply.

His eyes closed, but there was still a smile on his face. He felt sated and grateful that she'd initiated everything with her impulsive visit to his office earlier this evening.

However, morning came and abruptly brought with it the harshness of reality.

She was still tucked into him, cradled so tenderly by his body. She could feel him breathing deeply, still resting in sleep, her back against his chest.

Hinata felt the crashing guilt first, then the censure that inevitably led her to yell at herself internally while dread slithered up and down her spine.

In her selfish desire to sleep with him, she'd forgotten about the model he was dating.

Bitterness rose up in her throat. She'd become that kind of woman.

Girl, what have you done?!

At this point, she didn't know whether it was the angel or the demon talking.

She had to leave. She couldn't stay.

Quietly, she forced herself to leave his arms, gathered her things, and then because this might be the last time she could do this, Hinata knelt beside the bed and watched him. He was sprawled on his stomach, bare-chested, but she knew he wore his pajama bottoms underneath that blanket draped over him. His tousled hair was less than perfect, his face was turned towards her, his left cheek pressed against the sheets.

How sweet he looked. How peaceful.

He was breathing deeply, probably still exhausted from last night.

Because she had to do it, she shook him awake.

"Naruto."

When he opened his eyes, he saw her by the bed. She was already dressed, and he felt a shiver of apprehension even before he was fully awake to understand what was about to happen.

"Hey."

Slowly, he sat up. "Are you going already?"

"Yes."

He heard the finality in her voice, saw the stiff way she was holding herself, how very different she was from her usual self. And how very different she was from last night.

He swung his legs off the bed and stood up, which made her back up a step. She was gazing intently at his face, as if she was trying to memorize his features.

The dread intensified, but he had to ask.

"Hinata, what was this to you?"

"This? Between us last night?"

He nodded.

"This was a mistake," she said, reaching out with a hand on his bare chest. She felt him tense so she smiled in an attempt to take the sting out of her words.

Ah, shit.

This felt so much like a breakup.

He felt his heart squeeze, seized in the realization that she was going to bolt.

"Because, Naruto, after last night, I don't think I'll ever be able to get you out of my system."

He only calmly stared at her, unsure what to say. Naruto was having trouble processing how quickly they'd gone from fun last night to sorrow this morning.

She took a deep breath and then launched into a rambling explanation that didn't allow him to interrupt.

"I'm a fucking homewrecker. And you're too fucking nice. There's no way in hell you could ever be a two-timing bastard, right? So this whole thing was my fault. You can blame it all on me if she asks. You're probably going to tell her. But it's just this one time, I promise. I'm sorry I came between you and your girlfriend. I'm sorry I forced you to have sex with me. But I meant everything I said last night. You're beautiful and kind, and wonderful. An amazing photographer and a gentleman to the tee. I just couldn't help myself because you're so gorgeous and I just wanted to experience one night with you. And I had the most wonderful time. I'll remember it forever."

She blinked, and he pounced on her opening, grasped her arms, looked into her face, and hastily said, "Hinata, wait! Stop right there. You're making a mistake. I don't have a girlfriend. I'm not with Ino."

"You're not?" She paused and he noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. But she blinked them away and shook her head, hurriedly wiped her eyes.

He reached to cup her cheek, rubbed at the residual tears that streaked the side of her face. "I'm not dating Ino. We never were. I'm single, Hinata. Single." He was desperate. She had to believe him.

Hinata looked at him more closely, and he could tell she didn't believe him, that she thought he was just saying things so that she would continue sleeping with him.

"Right," she said and nodded, placating him. "You're single." Then she began another babbling torrent of justifications for her not wanting to see him again. "I was very honest when I said this was a mistake. I went out with a coworker once, and it complicated things and made me feel so muddled. Things are fine now between us, though—I think? So don't worry about that. He's still a very good friend. But I don't think I can do that with you."

"Hinata—"

She held up a hand. "Naruto, I don't think continuing this is a good idea, especially since we're still in a competition. Shit, the Awa-Odori festival is in a few days. I'm here to win this and I can't let anyone, even you, stand in my way."

He was quiet for a moment, because he knew and even understood that ambition in her. Hell, he respected it a lot. It's just…

"You're not being fair, Hinata."

She pointed to her left shoulder, at her scars she'd hidden once more underneath her turtleneck. She smiled briefly and then shrugged. "Life's not fair."

He had nothing to say to that.

Then she was vulnerable again, a nervous twitch of her fingers in front of her. But she was starting to make a lot of sense now, especially when she said, "I'm sorry. I didn't think this through when I came over. What was going to happen after? Us sleeping with each other but still competing against each other? One of us might really win this. How are you going to feel about me when I win then?"

He had to match her honesty. "I don't know."

"Exactly." She reached up and then caressed his cheek. He gripped her wrist to keep her hand on his face.

She let him. "And that's the reason why I don't think we should start anything."

Somehow, he managed to ask, "You don't want to even just be friends? Just like before?"

"Who're you kidding?" She raked him with a glance. "Maybe you can, but I can't. I just can't, Naruto. Even now, I want you. If I don't go now, I'm going to beg you to make love to me again."

She took a step forward, reached out and ran a palm down his front and stopped right at this waistband. "Can you resist me, Naruto? Can you just be my friend?" She took another step closer and he instinctively raised his arms to pull her closer, wrapping her in a hug. She stayed in his embrace and squeezed him back.

Don't do this, please.

Still, he didn't say anything aloud and shook his head, the top of her head brushing his chin. He answered her question. "No, you're right, Hinata. I don't want to be just your friend."

"See? I didn't think so. It's just better to end everything now. We shouldn't have started in the first place. And that's my fault. Everything's my fault." She took a deep breath, pressed her cheek to his chest, her hands rubbing up and down his back. But then she pulled back and she looked at him, her eyes clouded, no longer filled with light. "I'm so sorry, Naruto. I need to go."

He leaned in and kissed her softly, almost breaking his heart by how achingly gentle and tender she responded. "Good, bye, Hinata."

She nodded, ran to the entranceway, turned the knob to his door, and quickly left.

Naruto stared unseeingly at the closed door, heart pounding. He slid shakily down, his knees were jelly, suddenly feeling like he was going to faint and throw up. He missed the edge of the bed and ended up landing on his butt on the floor.

What the fuck just happened?!